Colin's Diary

1947 Asturias

These photographs were taken on board the Asturias in November 1948, by Pat Piggott.

His wife Irene (Rene) and son Michael are pictured with other passengers.

If you can identify them, please let us know.

Reader Phil Green of the UK has submitted this photo of the Asturias, taken by his father who served in the 14th/20th Kings Hussars from July 1952 to December 1954.

If anyone can identify the date and place, please let us know.

Eddie and Violet Lawrence were married in Leeds UK and came to Australia in May 1948.

Eddie's niece Valerie would love to know what happened to them.

Yvonne Coulthurst (age 22) came to Australia in August 1948 with her sister Nadine (21) and their mother, Renee (pictured right)

Yvonne's daughter Marijke would love to hear from anyone who remembers them.

1951 - Dec	Anthony Triscott was only 1year old when his family travelled to Australia on the Asturias.  He'd like to get in touchw ith other passengers.
1947 - Nov	Ken Crompton was 9 years old when he sailed on the Asturias with his parents, Edwin and Winifred and his three brothers (Gordon - age 12, David - 8 and Terrence, 6).  They finally settled in Hobart.  ken would love to hear from anyone who remembers the same voyage.
1947- Nov	Christine Caligari was 8 years old in 1947 when she travelled on the Asturias with her parents, Hugh and Georgina Wilkie, and her sister Isobel.  They were from Rothesay, Isle of Bute (Scotland) and their final destination was Melbourne.  They spent some time, including Christmas Day, in a migrant camp in Fremantle.   Christine would love to hear from anyone on that voyage, or anyone who remembers her family.
1948-Jul	The daughter of passengers who travelled on the ship in July 1948 wonders what deck their berths were on.  The berth numbers were 1400, 198 and 200.
1951-Apr	I would like to exchange emails with anyone who travelled on the Asturias leaving Southampton 6th March 1951, arriving in Sydney on the 9th April 1951.  I was a 12 year old girl at the time and my name was Barbara Rayner.  I have one brother Rodney who was nearly 9 at the time.   My parents Elsie and Bill soon made friends with a couple from Newcastle - or near there; Gladys and Walter Scott and their young son, also Walter.  My parents and Gladys and Walter and their son are all deceased now.  We made friends with two single Maltese men, one was called joseph and he was 21 at the time, and I think he went to Victoria.  Also with two German brothers, both married and travelling without their families (who would come only later, they said).  One was called Karl.  I'm not sure of their surname but think it was Muller or Schmidt and they went tot live in Queensland.   I have documents from the time (ships concert programme, programme of events for the voyage) and photos.  Barbara Oehm (Rayner)
1950-Jun	FOUND! (Chris was united with Alan Edward Conway via this website.  They exchanged emails and family items before Alan passed away soon after.  The families have kept in touch)   Chris Manning from Colchester (UK) is seeking information about his great uncle James (Ted) Conway who migrated to Australia, together with his wife Winifred and son Alan Edward Conway.  He has a lot of information about the family he would be happy to pass on.
1950-Mar	Ian Burgess from Morwell (Victoria) came to Melbourne on the SS Asturias on 6 March 1950, with his parents, brother and four sisters.   He would like to communicate with anyone else who travelled on the same voyage.   "If you are interested, please contact me so we can discuss our lives from that time.  I was 6 years old and have very few memories prior to that time."
1952 -Jun	My name is Albert Connorton - my nickname was Conny.  I arrived on June 27, 1952 on the Asturias - boarding from Southampton.  I returned to the UK in 1957.  I would like to hear from anyone who remembers this period or was on the same ship.  I shared a cabin with Lofty (second name unknown) who got off in Perth.  There was around 6 in our cabin - a Scot from Glasgow, a fellow from Lancs.  I got off in Melbourne and went to the migrant nissan huts in Exhibition Buildings.  I boarded around St Kilda, Fraser St - Middle Park and mostly around this area.   I got a job as a carpenter when they were building the Post Office in Little Lonsdale Street,  I would like to hear from anyone from this period - any memories of this time.
1950	Jenny is trying to find crew lists for the voyages of March and June 1950.
1950-Dec	Tom Anthony, age 13, travelled on the Asturias with his step-father (David Moore), mother (Martha) and brothers David Anthony (age 16) and Matthew Moore (age 3).  Tom's son Peter would like to get in touch with any passengers who remember his father, or who might have photographs of him taken on board.
1951-Apr	Eileen Taylor was 12 years old when she travelled on the Asturias with her parents Tom and Frances and brother David (14) and sister Diana (5).  She formed a friendship with a girl named Margaret and has photos of them together.  She would love to get in touch with her.   "I think her name was Margaret Browne - if you are out there Margaret I would love to hear from you.  I have a photo of us taken on deck ..."